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The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story
The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story | Diane Ackerman
The New York Times bestseller: a true story in which the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands. After their zoo was bombed, Polish zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski managed to save over three hundred people from the Nazis by hiding refugees in the empty animal cages. With animal names for these "guests," and human names for the animals, it's no wonder that the zoo's code name became "The House Under a Crazy Star." Best-selling naturalist and acclaimed storyteller Diane Ackerman combines extensive research and an exuberant writing style to re-create this fascinating, true-life storysharing Antonina's life as "the zookeeper's wife," while examining the disturbing obsessions at the core of Nazism. Winner of the 2008 Orion Award.
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review
CSeydel
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Pickpick

#SummmerEndReadathon
This is a hard book to rate, because the good parts were easily 4-5 stars, but overall, the book was too unfocused and I didn‘t appreciate Ackerman‘s tendency to indulge in fanciful flights of imagination. She would say something might have happened a certain way and then describe her imagined scene in rich detail. She writes too poetically to tell this harrowing war story in a compelling way and it was a struggle to get into.

CSeydel I had to switch to audio so I could let the extensive descriptions just flow by. However, during the later part of the war, I was fully consumed by the descriptions of the Żabińskis‘ daring and the various close calls and terrors they withstood. 14mo
TheSpineView Sounds good! 14mo
35 likes2 comments
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CSeydel
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Good Lord, I hope the whole book isn‘t this ridiculously overwritten. “Fragrant reveilles”? “A thousand moist prisms ornament the juniper”? “The rhumba of bees”?

My god, woman, get a hold of yourself! Where‘s the editor?

LeahBergen 🤣 1y
julieclair What a hoot! My reaction to this passage was the total opposite. 😆 I love this imagery! Which makes me think this would make a great book club selection… discussions are always better when people have differing opinions. 😀 1y
CSeydel @julieclair I do love imagery, but this is too over the top for me. I agree with you about book clubs! My book club has gotten so boring lately - I guess that‘s why I‘m on Litsy so much 😂 1y
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quietlycuriouskate Sensory overwhelm: I need a lie-down! 1y
dabbe Did the author get paid by the word and how long it was? 🤣🤣🤣 1y
TheBookgeekFrau 🙄🤣 1y
CSeydel @dabbe I really think it was a combination of wanting to write poetically and wanting to show how much research she has done, that she can evoke the scene in so much detail. The problem is that the entire first chapter is like this! I need something to actually *happen* amidst all the breathing of ginkgo and rhumba-ing of bees 😂 1y
quietlycuriouskate Aside from the "fragrant reveille" , strictly speaking there's not a word here you couldn't use ordinarily and yet... "What's the weather doing today?" "Well there's a rhumba of bees and dewy censers of porphyrian lilacs" "So I won't need an umbrella, then?" Jeez! 1y
CSeydel @quietlycuriouskate exactly! It‘s not any one thing, it‘s the whole passage. For me, it tips from gorgeously evocative into borderline nonsensical. 1y
julieclair This conversation is cracking me up! 😂 1y
dabbe @CSeydel Get that plot going, awesomely poetic writer and researcher! 🤣🤩🤗 1y
rwmg I read my book instead of cleaning today because there was a rhumba of bees on the roomba. 1y
CSeydel @rwmg 😆🐝 1y
33 likes14 comments
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BarkingMadRead
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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Starting my #doublebookspin today. I can‘t believe I‘ve managed to keep up this year! I‘ve managed to read both books every month 🤣 @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 1y
43 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Allylu
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#LetterZ #AlphabetGame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It‘s the last letter!!! What‘s next? This has been so much fun. Thank you to everyone who played. 🥰📚🎉

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I was trying to think of something else!! 2y
Cinfhen Great pick!!! And yes, this was fun 🤩 2y
Andrew65 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Just a suggestion. Alphabet of favourite authors and tag favourite book by that author? (edited) 2y
Allylu @Andrew65 I was thinking about that too! ✍️ 2y
Andrew65 @Allylu great minds think alike! 😂 2y
19 likes5 comments
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Deblovestoread
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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This book was a so-so read for me. Unfortunately, it‘s been awhile since I read it so I can‘t tell you why.
Challenge complete.

Thanks Misty for hosting #AlphabetGame! It‘s been fun.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thanks for playing!! 2y
35 likes1 comment
review
Cathyloves2read
Panpan

I read so many books set in the WW2 era that I loved. This wasn‘t one of them. Way too much of this book read as either a history or a science lesson. I noticed that the authors writing style incorporates a lot of lists. I can‘t help but wonder if that was done as a space filler. This was especially evident in the audio book version. Im disappointed, as I was so looking forward to reading this.

AmandaBlaze I enjoyed the movie of the same name. 3y
Cathyloves2read I‘m going to give the movie a try. Thank you. 3y
10 likes2 comments
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Geemom1118
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I never cared to read anything about history or the war before but after hearing a lot of hype of another book it peaked my interest. Gonna give this one a try.

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Nikki_E
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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My tv attempted to kill me today. Fortunately it‘s just a nasty bump and abrasion that seemed a lot worse then it was.

Trying to read the tagged book but it‘s not holding my attention. I just want to watch some mindless tv but, the tv made out worse then I did.

Kshakal Sending well wishes for a speedy recovery! 3y
DinoMom Goodness, I guess they weren‘t lying when they said TV is bad for your health! Hope you have speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹 3y
marleed Oh wow, Thank goodness it was not worse. Wishing you a speedy recovery. 3y
See All 17 Comments
Suet624 Oh no! Best wishes to you. 3y
JudeCC Hope you get better soon!!! Rest and take care! 3y
SW-T Oh my! Wishing you a speedy and safe recovery! 3y
AmyG Oh no! Feel better!❤️‍🩹 (edited) 3y
quietjenn You have! Hope it gets better soon. 3y
KathyWheeler You can never trust those tvs! I‘m glad you‘re okay. 3y
sprainedbrain I‘m glad you‘re ok! ❤️ 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Ohmigosh!! Hope you‘re healed up and feeling like yourself soon! ❤️‍🩹 3y
CarolynM Hope you're feeling better soon 💐 3y
julesG Feel better soon! 💐 3y
TrishB Hope you‘re feeling better soon. 3y
Cupcake12 Hope you start to feel better soon xx 3y
Bookwomble Ouch! I hope you're feeling more comfortable soon 💗 3y
bookaholic1 Wow, take care, feel better soon❤ 3y
39 likes17 comments
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Magdalenka
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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“I don't understand all the fuss. If any creature is in danger, you save it, human or animal.”

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Curiouser_and_curiouser
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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It's day 3 of a 7 day lockdown here in Melbourne & I should be face painting all day at the Royal Melbourne Zoo but instead I'm reading The Zookeeper's Wife in bed.
Yesterday was spent cleaning my garage & preparing for online schooling next week! Keeping busy & productive 😁

This book is incredible in terms of facts in & around Warsaw during the German occupation in Ww2.
Looking forward to watching the movie when I finish.
Only 50 pages left!

CarolynM Better numbers today. Fingers crossed the 7 days is enough. I'm sick of the mask already! 3y
Curiouser_and_curiouser Oh no! Are you still working @CarolynM ? I've got mine on just for a walk to the park atm. I've just heard it's been extended for another 7 days. I'm just going to slowly catch up on work at home and minimize our stuff in general. As well as get started on taxes. Might as well use the time for productivity. 3y
CarolynM No, not really, just a very little part time work. I don't mind the mask do much indoors, but I really hate it when I'm walking! 3y
53 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Curiouser_and_curiouser
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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I've just read chapter 20 about pediatrician Henryk Goldszmit/Janusz Korczak. The saddest chapter so far.

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Curiouser_and_curiouser
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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Reading this amazing true story at the moment!

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JacintaMCarter
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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Mehso-so

#2021Book20
The story told within this biography was incredibly interesting. However, it was written more like a collection of facts presented one after another. I realize that's what a biography is, but most of the time they are written more like a novel in order to pull in the reader. I would have liked to get inside the characters' heads a little more, which should have been possible considering most of them kept detailed journals.

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Suet624
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Folks generally seem to be so-so about this book, but in the first 30 minutes I learned interesting facts about linden trees and their connection to churches and that elephants can get herpes on their trucks. If that‘s all I get out of this book I‘ll consider it a win. 🤪🤪😜😜

Cinfhen Hahaha 😂😂I don‘t know why this book just didn‘t move me 🤷🏼‍♀️ 4y
Suet624 Well you‘re definitely not alone. 🙂 4y
kspenmoll Read this long ago & really liked it. 4y
See All 7 Comments
Suet624 Oh goody. 💕💕 4y
Reggie Lol 4y
Jas16 I am with @kspenmoll Read it when it first came out and remember really liking it 4y
Suet624 Oh good. I like the same books that you and @kspenmoll like. 4y
55 likes7 comments
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Deblovestoread
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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1) Besides the normal chores & groceries I will be audiosewing and reading.
2) Louise Penny and Willy Vlautin
3) I don‘t do creepy...to big of a wimp.

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

Eggs Audio sewing - I need to do that 🧵! Thanks for playing 🍁📚🤗 4y
30 likes1 comment
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TheSpineView
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Eggs I chose this too📚👍🏼 4y
TheSpineView @Eggs We do this all the time! 😂 4y
65 likes2 comments
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Eggs
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Madelpadel
Pickpick

A great book! This book is full of as much factual information as a textbook, but it‘s brilliantly weaved through the story of Antonina‘s life during the occupation of Poland. And so fun to hear about the animals!

violabrain Loved this book, too! 5y
3 likes2 comments
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Madelpadel

COVID-19 has brought shared trauma into all of our lives, but Ackerman has helped me to view things in a new perspective.

“She had had so many plans for the coming year, now she wondered if she and Rys would survive the night. If she lived to see Jan again. If her son would celebrate another birthday. ‘Every day of our life was full of thoughts of the horrible present and even our own death‘ she wrote in her memoirs.”

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kitteh_reads
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Pickpick

Another book club pick. This is a nonfiction book about the story of a courageous woman in the middle of WWII in Warsaw, Poland. I am always interested in reading books about strong women during WWII. Within her story, there was some really interesting insight into how Warsaw survived the war and Nazi occupation. The stories about the animals and the overwhelming humanity found on both sides of the war was so interesting!!! Definite recommend!

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MallenNC
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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This is the only book set in #Poland that I know I‘ve read. Unfortunately I did not like the author‘s writing style but the true story told here is a worthy one. #LetsTravelAugust

OriginalCyn620 I haven‘t read this or seen the movie. The animals better be okay! 😬 (edited) 5y
MallenNC @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620 During most of the book the zoo animals are actually gone. Their spaces were used to hide Jewish people. I have not seen the movie but the book goes off on tangents so it was hard to follow. 5y
OriginalCyn620 @MallenNC well that just makes me wonder where the animals went! But since you‘re not a fan of the book, I‘m not jazzed to read it and find out. 😝 5y
MallenNC @OriginalCyn620 I don‘t recommend the book. The movie may be ok? 5y
24 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Eggs
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KarouBlue Such a good book, too! 5y
OriginalCyn620 👌🏻❤️📚🇵🇱 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I need to read this!! 5y
Eggs Is it on your shelf??? @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 5y
73 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
BethR91
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
Panpan

Having seen the film and recently read several books based in Warsaw during WW2 I thought this was an obvious next choice. I really struggled to get into it and could not engage with the characters. Sadly, I gave up and will probably not be revisiting

2 likes1 stack add
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Just.Linds
Bailedbailed

I tried for about 156 pages to get into this. Tried really hard I was expecting a fantastic novel that pulled my heart strings and instead it was this patchwork quilt of stories that was confusing and hard to follow.... super bummed. Maybe I‘ll try the movie??

Aims42 Ooo, good to know! I've got this on my TBR list, will keep my expectations in check 👍 5y
4 likes1 stack add1 comment
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SaraHasClass
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Mehso-so

This is the account of the Warsaw Zoo & the Nazi resistance that arose from the zookeeper & his wife. Hiding Jews in plain sight, they "fought" against Germany's quest to annihilate anyone (human or animal) Nazis did not see as "pure." A terrifying account at times, this was a more interesting historical account than it was a masterful story. Try as I might I could not make an emotional connection despite the horrific context.

4 likes1 stack add
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Just.Linds
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“I don‘t understand all the fuss. If any creature is in danger, you save it, human or animal”
-Perfect book with a perfect quote for a long road trip to pick up our new puppy 🐶 ❤️

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Beccacraft
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
Mehso-so

I generally love war-time books, especially true stories. It‘s not that I didn‘t enjoy reading this book, but that I often found myself skimming or having to re-read passages because I couldn‘t get fully engaged in the story or the tangents.

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Elizabeth2
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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Mehso-so

This book had so much potential. I was looking for “a war story” as the cover espouses. What the reader gets is more like a recounting of various historical texts. The author doesn‘t want to speak for the people about whom she is writing, so the text mixes tense and moves from a story writing style to a textbook style quickly and often. I found it distracting. I did find the history interesting and learned a few new things. ⭐️⭐️/5

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Bummer. I tried this one a while ago and bailed, and then I saw the movie trailer and thought I‘d give it another shot. Maybe not! 6y
Elizabeth2 @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled this is one where I actually think the movie might be better than the book. 🤷‍♀️ I haven‘t seen the movie though. (edited) 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I think you may be right! The movie looks good 6y
29 likes3 comments
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bookaholic1
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed it.
A war story with some good Information

13 likes1 stack add
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Elizabeth2
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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This is what my morning looks like. Hopefully, most of my day will look the same. Hubby is taking 3/4 of the kids to see Captain Marvel. My college kid can‘t go - he‘s quarantined in his room, sick with an upper respiratory virus, fever and body aches (tested negative for flu). Poor kid is spending the beginning of his Spring Break sick. I‘ll be reading and taking care of his needs today. 🤒😷❤️📚

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Elizabeth2
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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This book is not all I hoped it would be but it has its moments. Just before this, the author is explaining through quoted text that the children of the Ghetto couldn‘t fathom the concept of distance. Their mothers explained it to them by describing open fields where the sky meets the earth and forests of trees as far as the eye can see. I found this heartbreaking, as so much of what people endured during this time period is.

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Elizabeth2
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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It‘s been a day full of minor frustrations. I‘m letting them go with a little help from my pup, my book, and a Leinenkugel‘s Snowdrift. There‘s a little thunderstorm rolling through and tonight, this is my heaven. There was a horrific 12 car accident only a mile from my home on Monday with two lives lost, one a community leader and one a 7 year old boy. The community is still reeling from it. Be kind to one another and let those frustrations go.

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Elizabeth2
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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Dinner with my Book Club BFFs tonight. They fuel my soul. Isn‘t this cocktail napkin cute?!? We are reading The Zookeepers Wife and all feel that same way about it so far - moving along at a slow pace making it hard to read, and the author is trying so hard to write the factual history (this is non-fiction after all) that the reader loses out on what could be a great story. We shall see how it finishes... #bookclub #besties #lifelongfriends

24 likes1 stack add
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Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures
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Alright ladies, which one do you think? It was really hard finding books under 400 pages, but I finally found a few. I‘m partial to the tagged book, but am totally willing to do any of them. #LMPBC #groupb @Littlestbookshelf @Mynameisacolour @Bookwormjillk

HeathHof @HufflepuffGirl90 I've read most of the Zoo Keepers Wife but I would read it again if that's what the rest of the group would like to read. Otherwise, my vote goes for Mrs. Poe. 6y
Littlestbookshelf I have read the zookeepers wife. I can reread it if everyone wants to read it! The girl in the letter sounds super interesting to me! If we don‘t read it for this then I have it find it soon! 😂 6y
Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures @Littlestbookshelf and @Mynameisacolour I wouldn‘t want to do one you‘ve already read!! I‘ll take that one out of the running! @Bookwormjillk what do you think? 6y
See All 6 Comments
Bookwormjillk Mrs. Poe has been on my list- I read a short bio of Mr. Poe recently and he seemed like a piece of work. I‘m guessing that might lead to some fun discussions. 6y
Julies_Bookshelf_Adventures Okay, so majority rules and I will read 6y
Littlestbookshelf @HufflepuffGirl90 sounds good to me! Ready to start reading our books soon! 6y
46 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Karla2
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Pickpick

Great book, I loved the great detail.

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Elizabeth2
The Zookeeper's Wife | Diane Ackerman
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I went to buy my next book club book, The Zookeepers Wife, and accidentally brought home 5 extra books. 🤷‍♀️📚 Can‘t resist book deals. #bookhaul #blamelitsy #oops

TheSpineView It happens to the best of us! ☺ 6y
34 likes1 comment
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thereadingowlvina
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📚 The Zookeeper's Wife (in my tbr pile 😁)
🙎‍♀️ Gabrielle Zevin
🎬 Zookeeper
🥒 Zucchini

Thanks for the fun #ManicMonday #letterz @JoScho ! 👍🤗💕

JoScho 🖤🖤🖤 6y
MichelleScott_author I‘ve ben wanting to read this. 6y
32 likes2 comments
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K.Wielechowski
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Pickpick

I hate that it is the movie cover (#booksnob) but I love this book! While much of the narrative revolves around Antonina Zabinski, wife of the director of the Warsaw zoo, it is much more the story of Poland before, during, &after WWII. The Zabinskis risked everything to help Jews escape the Nazis but you also learn what life was like in war-time Warsaw. As the gr. gr. granddaughter of a Polish immigrant, I loved learning about where I come from.

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K.Wielechowski
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Why was it, she asked herself, that “animals can sometimes subdue their predatory ways in only a few months, while humans, despite centuries of refinement, can quickly grow more savage than any beast?”
-Antonina Zabinski

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K.Wielechowski
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I got this book at the Lincoln City Libraries annual book a few months ago. Cracked it open to find somebody‘s lost shopping list. Do hope they got their deodorant 😂 #thingsfoundinbooks

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Rachbb3
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Mehso-so

This is a look at Jan and Antonina's (proprietors of the Warsaw Zoo) journey during WW2. So sad what was done to the people and animals.

Also, this is the last of my #LitsyAtoZ challenge! 🎉🎉
@BookishMarginalia

merelybookish Wow congrats! Another challenge complete! 6y
Rachbb3 @merelybookish Thanks! 😊 6y
70 likes2 comments
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Amanda.smith
Pickpick

A well written view into a part of history often talked about, but from a new perspective, a new story that's truly amazing. A deeper look into Warsaw and the effects on the war not just to humans, but the animals too. A definite read!

CarolynM Welcome to Litsy 🌼 6y
7 likes1 stack add1 comment
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RachLovesTV
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Mehso-so

An in-depth account of war-time Warsaw, and the role Jan and Antonina Zabinski played in the underground Polish resistance. I thought this book was compelling, but I feel like it could have been shaped or paced better. There were lots of very detailed anecdotes about their lives during the war, and sometimes it was hard to see how those individual stories fit inside the big picture of the war.

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Tarynitup
Pickpick

This book changed a lot about what I decide to read now. My first book transitioning from fiction into nonfiction, I was completely enthralled with this book from beginning to end. Such vivid descriptions of what actually took place. This is now what I spend the majority of my time reading, historical nonfiction. The movie was an awful take on the book however.

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CMCurtis77
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My latest betterworldbooks.com haul!! Love this site.. cheap used books at amazing prices. Plus it helps fund literacy programs around the world as well

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violabrain
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Pickpick

The writing was at times a bit uneven, disorganized, and hard to follow (particularly at the end of the book), but I still enjoyed it and learned a lot. The descriptions of the interactions between the humans and animals were delightful! 3.5 stars, I would say.

10 likes1 stack add
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GripLitGrl
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love elephants 🐘💗 6y
KarouBlue Loved this book! 6y
vkois88 ❤❤ Love the old photo 6y
62 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Kelsey18
Mehso-so

Meh. Not very cohesive but well researched